Remodel Archives - Page 2 of 3

Why Building Costs Are Rising in 2021

As the Twin Cities get back to some sort of normal post-pandemic, there is one aspect of everyday life that might not be the “normal” as we understood it to be for quite some time. That change is the cost of materials used to build new homes and renovate older houses.

How to Start a Garden

Your home is more than just your physical house. Adding and maintaining a garden can be a lovely addition to the exterior of your home, gracefully adding to the ambience and color of your environment. In addition to any flowers that might speckle your outdoor space, growing fresh fruits and vegetables can also help you cook healthier, tastier meals. Here are the basic steps to starting your garden. Decide What You’d Like to Grow It’s important to give this step some dedicated thought. After all, what you decide to plant will shape your gardening experience. Would you like some fresh vegetables or colorful flowers? How much work are you envisioning each week? Once you’ve got a firm idea of your vision, you can move towards implementing it. Plan Your Space Your garden will be the main focus and fixture of this area of the property – make sure you take the time to map out what shape and location you are envisioning. Keep in mind how much space your plants will need to grow, especially if they have deep root systems or bloom into large vegetables. Invest in the Right Tools Your local gardening outlet or cooperative will be an...

3 Spring Updates For Your House

Spring is a time for renewal and rejuvenation. After months of a cold, dry, and dreary Minnesota Winter, we all feel ready to embrace the Spring weather. If you’re feeling the urge to update your home, here are three ways to embrace the Spring season in your home with style. 1. Flowers and Plants Brighten up your house with some freshly cut flowers or potted plants. Next grocery haul pick up some fresh flowers or plants from the grocery store or order online at marketplaces like Amazon for added convenience. Another way to welcome the Spring into your home is to plant an indoor garden which will make your house feel Spring-ready as it brings the outdoors indoors. You can build a beautiful Spring garden inside by installing a rack, hanging capabilities, or an indoor trellis. To make sure you choose the right plants for your house read The Spruce guide to indoor plants for your best indoor garden. If you’re worried about remembering to water your plants, there are many custom, self-watering systems available for installation. All the plants and flowers in your house will improve air quality; making the house feel healthier and happier. Between mini-cactus desk plants...

How To Organize Your Closet

As we transition into the fall and back-to-school, it’s important to keep a tidy closet space to stay organized. Here’s some tips from House Lift to organize your closet: Design Your closet space should work for you and your family’s lifestyle. Consider if you want a walk-in, California, or hidden closet, ask yourself the following questions to see what kind of closet you need: What are your style needs? How do you plan to use your closet? How will your family use the closet? Is your family messy or organized? Do you value function or style more? Organize If you create places for all of the things in your closet it makes it easier to clean and creates a more tidy look. Try shelf dividers to keep your folded shirts, organize jewelry on a jewelry tree, install a pegboard on the wall for backpacks or raincoats, find a shoe rack to lift shoes off the floor, or buy matching storage boxes to hide sweatshirts, scarves, or sunglasses. Simplify The easiest way to streamline your closet is to invest in hangers that match. Matching hangers not only tie your closet together, but also highlight your wardrobe. If you or your kids...

Tips For A Kid-Friendly Home

A beautiful and kid-friendly home is within reach, here are a few tips as you design or remodel your bathroom, living room, and kitchen to create a stylish and family-friendly home. The Bathroom To achieve a safe and convenient bathroom, consider installing a separate shower and bath, instead of a combination of the two. Design a “wet zone” to keep the water confined and place the shower next to the bath with a glass wall dividing space from the rest of the room. For flooring, large-format tiles are easy to maintain, and the designs are both modern and classic, so you can enjoy function and style. The Living Room A living room adjacent to the kitchen not only gives a communal feel to your home, but also allows you to keep an eye on your children while they’re playing or doing homework. This layout will bring your family together in unexpected ways that matter most. Unless you have a separate playroom, you’ll need to keep this space tidy while housing the kid’s toys. Find furniture that’s stylish and storage-friendly, like an ottoman or sofa with hidden storage. Designate a few bookshelves or cupboards for books and toys. This way, your...

4 Summer Home Improvement Projects

The first day of summer is this Saturday and it’s already warm and sunny in Minnesota. If you’ve been thinking about tackling a few home improvement projects this summer, now’s the time to do it! Here are four summer home improvement projects to think about: 1. Powerwash Your Home’s Exterior Give your walkways and home exterior the high-power shower that they need, just make sure to follow the sprayer’s instructions to prevent any damage to your siding. The summer months are especially perfect for power washing your home as the sun rises earlier and goes down later. The extra hours in the day allows more time to get the job done, and this means more time to enjoy the outdoors. 2. Replace Your Windows Old windows cause major heat loss during the winter months, which results in higher heating bills and lower levels of comfort in the home. If your last summer’s caulking of the windows didn’t stop the chill in the winter, it may be time to call a professional to replace your windows this summer. 3. Re-side Your Home Nothing increases curb appeal quite like new siding. The right style transforms your house into the best looking house...

5 Home Projects

There’s only so much Netflix you can watch before you start getting restless. Renovating your entire home or yard isn’t likely right now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make some great changes while you’re at home. Here are five home projects that the whole family can do together: Straighten, Fix, or Redo Your Wall Decorations From TVs to artwork to photos, wall decor becomes crooked after a while. Take a moment to stroll through the house and straighten them all up; it makes a big difference in the overall look of your home. If you’re feeling especially motivated, take down all of your old decor and rearrange it, or create a new gallery by moving art around the house to keep things fresh. Rearrange the Furniture One of the easiest ways to freshen up your home is by rearranging your furniture. Try moving the couch to another wall, adjust your armchair, or mix and match prints from another room. This is a great way to introduce your kids to interior design and home projects, so let them take the lead on this project. Touch Up Your Paint Most of us have at least a few cans of paint stowed...

Designing Your Home Office

While you’re working at home, you need a space dedicated to your work that’s breathable, comfortable, quiet, and designed just for you. So how can you design a functional and striking home office? Here are some things to consider: Location Choose a part of the house that’s quiet or more private, ideally a room with a door and natural light. For added privacy and accessibility consider installing your home office adjacent to your bedroom. Wherever you decide to put your office, make sure it’s a place you can remain focused. Equipment One of the benefits of designing a home office is the level of personalization that’s available. Whether you want a stand up desk or a large table, you can tailor your office space to your dream. After you install your technology, plug everything into a power strip behind your desk so the cords are hidden for a safer and cleaner look. Invest in an elegant ergonomic-friendly chair so your eyes and body are protected while you work. Decoration You need a space that’s comfortable and stylish. Choose overall neutral colors like white, grey, tan, and ivory. These neutrals aren’t distracting and can be paired with your favorite accent color...

Top Updates Before Selling

To impress potential buyers, there are five areas of your home to focus your decorating efforts. Don’t worry — these are quick upgrades. Your real estate professional can help you determine your target buyer so you can tailor your upgrades to the local market. Here are the top upgrades for the five high-impact areas in your home: 1. Curb Appeal First impressions matter in real estate, increase your curb appeal with these simple changes: Reduce clutter: if your porch or yard has been cluttered for a while it’s easy to ignore it. Tidy up your yard and pressure wash your driveway, porch, and garage. Upgrade accessories: pick out a new welcome doormat and add a simple, seasonal wreath. Choose timeless accessories so your photos won’t look dated if a holiday passes. Add accessories: your porch shouldn’t be bare but don’t go overboard with accessories. Think of your porches’ accessories like jewelry; they should enhance your home, not overpower it. Add some colorful and stylish potted plants to your exterior entryway or an understated outdoor cafe table and chairs for coffee and morning showings. Paint your door: a beautifully painted front door is always a favorite. It’s an important part of...

4 Ways to Smarten Up Your Home

Your home just got smarter, and more efficient. With smart home technology, you can control cooling, heating, doorbells, locks, and lighting from the comfort of your smartphone. Smart technology isn’t just a way to make your life easier, but also a way to save energy, strengthen security, and differentiate your home on the market when you decide to sell. The convenience, luxury, and security smart technology creates can change your life forever, for the best. To help get you started, we’ve highlighted some essential smart upgrades for your home below. Thermostat A thermostat may seem like the most basic feature of the home, but it has a large impact on your energy bills and overall comfort. Half of your monthly energy costs are controlled by your thermostat, and a smart thermostat can reduce your energy expenditure greatly. What if you could use your phone to tell your thermostat you were on your way home? Or what if your thermostat could sense your proximity and calculate the exact time to make your home warm and cozy when you arrive? A smart thermostat can learn these household’s patterns and adjust heating and cooling according to when the home is occupied or not....

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